Two current and three former Perth Lynx stars have been selected in the Australian Opals squad for next month’s FIBA World Cup, while West Australian Darcee Garbin will further add to the local flavour.

Basketball Australia yesterday named 20 players in the squad that will eventually be trimmed to 12 for the World Cup in Spain.

The Australian-based players will meet at the AIS next week for a selection camp.

WNBA stars including Whitcomb, Liz Cambage, Leilani Mitchell, Cayla George and Rebecca Allen, will all be absent.

The Opals performed strongly during last month’s Four Nations tournament against Argentina, China and Serbia.

They returned to Australia with five wins from six matches.

Competition is fierce for positions in the final squad.

Whitcomb is competing with Mitchell and Kelsey Griffin for the only spot available for a naturalised player.

Opals coach Sandy Brondello is coaching the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and won’t be at the training camp, but she has three WNBL coaches as assistants — Cheryl Chambers (Sydney Uni Flames), Paul Goriss (Canberra Capitals) and Chris Lucas (Adelaide Lightning).

Brondello said the camp would play a key role in the team’s campaign.

“With the World Cup less than two months away, every training session is vital in order to be in our best shape and improve on areas at both ends of the floor,” Brondello said.

“The coaches have highlighted a number of things to work on from the China tour and this selection camp gives us a great opportunity to do so.”